tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23013841440761430522024-03-05T08:15:42.814-05:00Songwriting, Sequencing, and SoundtracksSt. Benedict's Prep School 2013 Spring Phase ProjectJeremy Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05912779548533106436noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-29613941111429134602013-05-23T15:52:00.001-04:002013-05-23T15:55:33.047-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Songwriting final projects have been posted. You have
the opportunity to vote for your favorite project(s). It takes about 15
minutes to listen to all of them. The poll closes on Friday, May 31 at 8:30
am. The winner will be announced during presentations later that day.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
The songs and videos may not play properly if you try to view this page
on your mobile phone. Unfortunately, this seems to be a bug to which we
have no current solution. Also, if you encounter any problems voting,
please let me know so that I can try to address them before the end of
next week.</span></span>Jeremy Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05912779548533106436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-90862499707745591462013-05-23T15:17:00.000-04:002013-05-23T15:17:41.391-04:00Get Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been a long process these last two weeks. It was rough to record a lot of takes of our vocal tracks. Our song is finally complete and it was great working with my producer/partner Eli. We had problems at first. We had to rerecord about three times, which was annoying. The first time we did it wrong and Dr. Fletcher told us to do it over because there was too much clipping. Then, when we did it over, the file didn't save properly. The third time we got it right and we were almost done. Finally today we finished by adding auto-tuning and correcting clipping on other tracks and our song sounds great. We want to thank everyone who helped us and who performed on our song with us. Vote for us!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034108279710288290noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-70197783476974639482013-05-23T15:15:00.000-04:002013-05-23T15:19:45.253-04:00The Distance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our final project was certainly a challenge. My partner and I had to create our own song using Garage Band. The song had no loops in it. We recorded everything either as Midi or Audio. We wanted to be original and create our own beat, our own guitar progression, and our own lyrics. The part that took the most time was the recording. This was difficult for us because my partner and I had trouble trying to stay with the beat. It was also hard to play for a long amount time because we didn't have enough stamina to keep the guitar going. Instead, we would play for several measures of the song and then we would pick the best measure and loop it. Recording the lyrics was difficult because my partner and I would sometimes mess up the words or the vocals would just not come out very cleanly. A lot of the times we had to delete the track and start over because the mic would pick up sounds coming the background. It was very annoying for us to record while other people were in the booth with us. Overall the project was challenging but it was also fun and a good experience.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301845623368521484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-36895826512781824102013-05-23T15:12:00.002-04:002013-05-23T15:56:47.022-04:00Relax<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In our final project, Jordan and I were focused on composing a jazz instrumental. Since it is an instrumental, we had to add improvised solos, which Dr. Fletcher played for us. Jordan played the drums and a bass line on the tuba. I played a harmony to match the bass line on my tenor saxophone. We chose to name the song RELAX to convey the overall mood. When you listen, it seems like nothing else matters. You may find yourself so relaxed that you dose off. That's the effect it has on me. Listen for yourself and see what you think. </span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-48252105023383575072013-05-23T15:10:00.000-04:002013-05-23T15:10:46.660-04:00A&R<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We made many mistakes at the beginning of our final project. There were lots of changes that needed to be made. The hardest part was finding or recording the right beats. Later on after adding the beats we had to check for clipping. Then we realized our final project would not be complete without more vocals. We knew many mistakes were going to be made, but we also knew we could learn from them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603907282014120278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-6122899567639386352013-05-23T15:06:00.001-04:002013-05-23T15:06:36.734-04:00Final Gambit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the last four days of Spring Phase, we were putting the finishing touches on our final projects. The title of my project is called "Final Gambit". For this song I made the beats for the B section by playing them in with a keyboard. I also made the bass. My main problem was that I had no recorded audio tracks. I wasn't going to receive full credit until I fixed this. Jordan helped me by playing beats for the A section on a real drum set. Christian tried to help me with the intro, but the melody didn't go together. I put a lot of work into my project. I hope it will turnout well. I am looking forward to presentations next week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-53477632810356513062013-05-23T14:45:00.001-04:002013-05-23T14:45:37.276-04:00Just Be Strong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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During this week the whole class has been racing to perfect their projects. Brian and I have been working extremely hard to get everything just right. The other day I stayed after school for half an hour working on our project. The pressure and nervousness from our deadline has been a great motivator for us to find new ideas. For example, we added new instruments including a Sub-Synth Bass, a Future Flute, four Big Electric Lead Guitars, and an Arena Run track. We added sound effects for a transition, not to mention two brand new beats. Despite the huge headaches and sleepiness, I think we really pulled this off. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849118731835566089noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-37661535359031799752013-05-17T13:59:00.002-04:002013-05-17T14:07:00.879-04:00Final Project Half Way Review This week has been long and probably the week that I personally worked the hardest. We have finally been working on our own song. Recording in the studio was a new experience. It was weird hearing how we sound, on guitar specifically, and how we really aren't as good as we initially thought we were. My partner and I have been trying to assemble a more acoustic oriented song. The hardest part is writing meaningful lyrics, because now-a-days music is always about the same stuff - money, drugs, and well anything that gives the body pleasure or makes you feel good. The lyrics I have at the moment are still in the making because I want them to be meaningful.Agustin Rodriguezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11498034631331371870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-7057005580780833932013-05-17T13:55:00.003-04:002013-05-23T14:47:45.320-04:00Get On UpWorking on my final project has been fun. We are basically done but we just need to add the lyrics. We had fun making it, but we didn't know how to start at first. We wanted it to be something everyone wants to hear, that would catch their attention but we ended up making it motivational and it still was successful. The hardest part was making the beat. It took us about two days to find some lyrics but it took most of the week to do the beat. Our week as songwriters was hectic but we accomplished our goal with audio, loops, and midi tracks and people loved it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034108279710288290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-51789192196799327072013-05-17T13:53:00.003-04:002013-05-17T13:53:30.574-04:00Final ProjectThis week has proved difficult for me to come up with a beat. We liked the idea of something unique but cool that people could listen to. Our goal was to lift people up and inspire them that they could do anything no matter what. In our final project we added a few spoken lines that fit the mood of the song. For an example, the very last line is "Just be strong". Hopefully people get the message that Marcus and I tried to show in our song. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147889769873712203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-25831150778944419112013-05-17T13:47:00.001-04:002013-05-17T13:47:25.085-04:00Final ProjectWhat I experienced this week was putting a whole song together with lyrics. I believe this is the hardest thing we've done so far. My partner and I didn't know where to start. As we progressed each day we learned that we needed to add more instruments to make the sequence sound fuller. Our goal was to make a three minute song that sounded good.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02078173349247806495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-15685724723650206962013-05-17T13:41:00.003-04:002013-05-17T13:41:51.366-04:00Final Project: Advanced Audio RecordingThis particular project has been very demanding on my mind. To succeed you really have to know how to plan your audio tracks and place them in the correct spot. For example, Brian and I were shooting for something strong and loud that would transition to something soft and emotional. Brian then recorded a short poem that he wrote in a studio and we added echos to make it sound like your conscious is speaking to you. Inspiration for this project came from listening to Ramin Dwardji's score for Iron Man and Hans Zimmer's score for Pirates of the Carribbean. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13849118731835566089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-31502344821631401012013-05-17T13:38:00.004-04:002013-05-17T13:38:30.424-04:00Final ProjectFor the past week, we have been working on our final project. Each group must create their own music. For this week the groups went into the studio to record live vocals or instruments. I was the only person to work alone. While I was still able to pull it off, the most difficult part of the project was getting the right combination of instruments. I just couldn't think of the right mood. I had decided to use a set of orchestra strings, shakers, and tambourine. I created many of the loops myself. There are still a few things that still needs to be fixed, but I am on track. I'm looking forward to the last few weeks of Spring Phase.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-59193268505188020082013-05-17T13:32:00.001-04:002013-05-17T13:32:03.909-04:00Recording In The StudioThis week was my first time recording in a studio and I found it appealing. Certain parts of the recording process opened my eyes. For example, when you record you can change the pitch or even the way it sounds. I recorded myself playing tenor saxophone and it sounded good, but when I put it in Garage Band I found new ways to enhance certain tones. It helps to have an ear for music. You also need an idea of how you want it to sound. You can't just go in and start dragging loops and call it a song.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-89273536518528423932013-05-17T13:26:00.015-04:002013-05-17T13:26:59.507-04:00Final ProjectFor our final project, my partner and I made a song with a jazzy feel. It came out to be an instrumental jazz piece. The completion process took approximately four days. For this song, we had to draw in and play in the different tracks using both midi and audio. This made timing harder because the primary way to fix a bad take is to re-record. Editing an audio track to fix timing can be difficult and time consuming.jordanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13377421520913008513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-67607142103480712672013-05-10T14:18:00.001-04:002013-05-10T14:18:20.695-04:00Training for the Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Alfifie and Eli have created a nice soundtrack for a video that shows
what it is like to train for SBP's annual hike on the Appalachian
Trail. The video footage was shot entirely on students' cell phones. Try to spot which camera cuts are aligned with changes in the
music and which are not.Jeremy Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05912779548533106436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-28043112574275466922013-05-10T13:33:00.003-04:002013-05-10T14:13:17.414-04:00Superman Sound Editing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Marcos and Byran have done an excellent job of sound editing for this old Superman Cartoon. Notice how subtle changes in the volume of flying bullets and sirens correspond to changes in scene. They have really left no stone unturned in their quest for perfection.Jeremy Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05912779548533106436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-2658061141944353652013-05-10T12:55:00.000-04:002013-05-10T12:55:00.470-04:00Basketball Video Take 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ricky's take on the basketball video is different in several ways from Jordan's. First of all, he leaves in the original audio from the video clip. The mood he creates is also quite different and works through contrast. One doesn't normally associate soft acoustic guitars and light percussion with basketball, but it is still effective. There is a lull in the action after the first missed shot that corresponds nicely to a pedal point in the guitar harmony. Everything is on pause until the action resumes.Jeremy Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05912779548533106436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-73185723931368339862013-05-10T12:44:00.001-04:002013-05-10T12:48:12.570-04:00Basketball Video Take 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is the first example of scoring for a basketball video. The music sets the mood for an upbeat game of street ball. Notice how the music changes as the action in the video changes. Jordan has also added the occasional sound effect to emphasize specific actions within the footage. For a fuller explanation of this, read Bryan's post on Hard Hits Versus Soft Hits.Jeremy Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05912779548533106436noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-62884116753561199412013-05-10T11:32:00.000-04:002013-05-10T11:32:39.021-04:00Trail Video with Multiple Cuts<i>For our Trail video we recorded the freshman as they tried to complete challenging tasks as a team. Everyone in class took videos with their phones and then we took some of the best ones and put them together. Later on we added music that fit each scenario and task the freshman did. This was called scoring for multiple cuts. </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05603907282014120278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-13850482235447306452013-05-10T11:10:00.004-04:002013-05-10T11:10:28.656-04:00Creating An Overall MoodFor this week of Songwriting, Sequencing, and Soundtracks, we were working on setting up the perfect mood for a video. This week we were editing a clip of the students playing basketball on the Lower Field. When we were done filming we had to add background music to the video. My approach with this video was to have a calm and peaceful setting, mainly using acoustic guitars with a set of shakers. For the second video, we were taking random shots of the freshmen preparing for the Trail. For this video, my approach was to have a type of flashback mood set with a ballad piano and a bit of southern rock piano. Dr. Fletcher said that I had the right approach for the Trail and a bit on the basketball shoot. I am looking forward with the next series of projects in the near future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-77742776460836155202013-05-10T11:08:00.000-04:002013-05-10T11:08:01.440-04:00Week Two SummaryIn this week I learned how to create a soundtrack for a short film of Superman. This was my first time learning how to create a soundtrack for a film. We also created a video without cuts of a basketball game that used music in the background. We also recored the freshmen outside training for the trail and added music behind the video. My favorite thing we did this week was creating sound effects for the Superman film.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02078173349247806495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-5197050458692286462013-05-10T11:01:00.002-04:002013-05-10T11:01:37.672-04:00Hard Hits Versus Soft HitsWhen making hard and soft hits for a video or a movie you have to know the difference between them. You have to determine what fits best with the mood. A Hard hit is when an event in the video track strongly corresponds to an event in the musical sound track. For an example when the robot in our Superman video knocks a cop aside we used a hard thumping sound. A soft hit on the other hand is when the timing is less direct but still has some relation. For example, in our basketball video the intensity of the music increased roughly about the same time that someone started to drive to the basket. These are the differences between hard and soft hits. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07147889769873712203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-5026377462666718172013-05-10T10:48:00.005-04:002013-05-10T10:48:41.072-04:00Sound Editing for SupermanThis week we tried to create sounds for a Superman video with other sounds from Garage Band. It was certainly a challenge to find sounds to match each clip. When Superman was flying, it was difficult looking for a loop that sounds like a flying or swoosh effect. We eventually used the sound a race car driving by. Another challenge was to trying to perfectly time the sound effect with the action that was taking place in the clip. An example was trying to make the sound of a gun shooting and pace it so it would sound like it was real. Timing was very important and me and my partner spent most of our time on this project trying to time the sound effects appropriately.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301845623368521484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301384144076143052.post-27085621226400427512013-05-10T10:41:00.003-04:002013-05-10T10:41:24.411-04:00Movie WeekIn class this week we were working with movies. What we did with them was to create moods, edit sounds, and use existing audio. We used all of these techniques while working on films about The Trail, Superman, and basketball movies. My favorite project was the basketball movie. My partner Eli and I were working on the sounds for the movie and during the scene where I made a basket, we slowed the tempo and the mood down. That was my favorite part.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034108279710288290noreply@blogger.com0